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Venezuela come into Sunday's Copa America clash against Ecuador with a vastly weakened squad, having lost several players due to an outbreak of coronavirus within the camp at the beginning of the tournament.

Talismanic forward Josef Martinez is out of action after testing positive, as well as key midfielders Jefferson Savarino and Romulo Otero.

Their defensive line has also taken a major hit, as Mikel Villanueva, Jhon Chancellor and experienced full-back Roberto Rosales will also continue to miss out.

As a result, manager Jose Peseiro has had to call up 15 more players to the squad, while trying to steer a makeshift side through the group stage.

The new back three of Francisco La Mantia, Luis Martinez and Luis Mago definitely earned themselves another start, having kept an impressive clean sheet against heavily-fancied Colombia last time out to earn their first point of the group stage.

Meanwhile, Fernando Aristeguieta should continue to lead the line in the absence of Josef Martinez, and he will be supported by the wide threat of Jose Martinez and Cristian Casseres.

They also boast a solid midfield pairing of Bernaldo Manzano and Junior Moreno, making them a particularly difficult outfit to break down.

Venezuela possible starting lineup: Farinez; Gonzalez, La Mantia, L Martinez, Mago, Cumana; J Martinez, Moreno, Manzano, Casseres; Aristeguieta

> Click here to see how Ecuador could line up for this clash

Written by
Sam Varley